Senior outfielder helps lead Jaguars to pair of victories

By BY CLAY WHITTINGTON - CWHITTINGTON@VICAD.COM
April 3, 2012 at 10:05 p.m.Updated April 3, 2012 at 11:04 p.m.

Kori Kocian was determined to not let history repeat itself.

During Saturday's doubleheader against Our Lady of the Lake, the University of Houston-Victoria senior outfielder delivered a two-RBI shot in the 11th inning of the second game, pulling the Jaguars within four runs at 7-3, but was tagged out as she dove into third base.

Despite keeping the Jaguars' hopes alive temporarily, UHV went on to lose the game.

In her first at-bat Tuesday against Concordia University, Kocian experienced a measure of redemption as she sent a ball to right field for a stand-up triple.

It was the first of three hits on the day for Kocian as UHV swept a home doubleheader against the Tornadoes at O'Connor Sports Complex.

"When I hit that triple, I was like, this is not about to happen to me again," Kocian said. "So, I sprinted. I just tore off, and I made it, and I was really excited about that.

"I've just got to get on base or move my runners, and I've been practicing that, and, in games, I've been executing that part. That's been my mentality."

Moments later, the 4-foot-11 Hallettsville native scored the game's first run off Brittany Arredondo's RBI single.

But she was not done.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Kocian connected on a two-RBI base hit, triggering a seven-run outburst that led to an 8-1 Jaguars' victory.

Kocian also made an impact in the second game, scoring in a three-run third inning that gave UHV a 4-2 advantage it held for the remainder of the game.

In total, Kocian went 3 for 5 with three runs and two RBIs against Concordia.

"She is like dynamite, (which) comes in a small package," Jaguars head coach Keri Lambeth said. "Size makes no difference."

But Kocian was not the only Jaguar to produce an impressive offensive performance.

UHV junior first baseman Porsha Ramos went 3 for 7 with three runs, while shortstop Arredondo was 3 for 5, including a 2-for-2 showing in the opening game, to go along with two runs, five RBIs and a stolen base.

Defensively, pitcher Dawn Villegas (7-3) allowed four hits in six innings to earn the Game 1 victory, while Emily Bergstrom (14-3) struck out four batters and gave up just two hits to win Game 2.

"We fight," Lambeth said. "We are a fighting team. If our pitchers are struggling, our batters are going to come around and fight even harder for our pitchers. If our hitters are struggling, our pitchers are going to fight for our hitters.

"We just work really well together. We are coming together more than ever as a team, and that is so important at such a critical time in the season."

The wins give ninth-ranked UHV an overall record of 22-6 with 16 games remaining and increases its home record to 12-2.

The Jaguars are off unitl April 12, when they travel to San Antonio for a doubleheader against Trinity University.